Media contacts database
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In public relations (PR) and marketing, a media contacts database is a resource which catalogs the names, contact information, and other details about people who work in various media professions.{{Cite book |last1=Hartomo |first1=Tjempaka |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=N3JMD8N_XBcC&dq=%22Media+contacts+database%22+-wikipedia&pg=PA52 |title=Sharing Knowledge: A Guide to Effective Science Communication |last2=Cribb |first2=Julian |date=2002-07-17 |publisher=Csiro Publishing |isbn=978-0-643-09955-5 |pages=52 |language=en}} These include journalists, reporters, editors, publishers, contributors, freelance journalists, opinion writers, social media personalities/ influencers, TV show anchors, radio show hosts, DJs, and others.
A media contacts database usually contains the following information:
- Full name of the media contact,
- The publication or channel they work for
- {{Clarify span|Designations|date=February 2021}} (past and present)
- Topics they cover, or their beat
- Contact information found in public domains
- Online presence like blogs and other social networking sites
- Education Information
Overview
A media contacts database is a public relations tool that is maintained and used by PR professionals to pitch stories on a particular topic, product, or company to a specific group of journalists. These journalists would then write or speak about the particular topic in a relevant issue or episode of their shows.
A media contacts database allows a PR professional to gain easy access to hundreds of journalists within a short span of time. Media contacts database are created and sold by many media research companies that offer such PR software for professionals.